Live bait bucket



p 1951 w. COMELLO 2,568,221

LIVE BAIT BUCKET Filed Dec. 31, 1949 INVENTOR. WILUAM CQMELLQ,

BY ya A TTOENEY.

Patented Sept. 18, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE v p g 2mm 'L'IVE'BAIT BUCKET William Cornello, St. Joseph, Mo. Application December 31, 1949, Serial No. 136,290

This invention relate to live bait bueketsand has particular reference to a bait bucket capable of being transported from place to place with its bait compartment containing water; without danger of leakage from the bucket, thus avoiding a separate imperforate container as is commonly used in bait buckets now in use.

It is an object of the invention to provide a bait bucket closed at its bottom and having aperiorated top, with the bottom portion of the bucket provided with an air chamber, thati calculated to float the bucket in the water in inverted manner, and having valvular means of .drainingthe air from the bucket when inverted and immersed in the water, thus avoiding an air-lock in the bait compartment and assuring that the bait com partment will be completely filled with water. The invention further contemplates a combined air-control and drainage valve for the air compartment, and through the medium of which the air in the air compartment may-be completely released, forcing the compartment to fill with water; at such times as it is desired to completely submerge the bucket. i The invention further contemplates a novel form of check valve, whereby the air in the bait compartment will be automatically exhausted when the bucket is inverted and placedin the water, such valve serving also as an automatic check against the drainage of waterfromthe bait compartment when the bucket is being transported. i y. Afurther object of the invention resides in a novel form of live bait bucket, thatis extremely simple in construction, is strong,.cheapi to manulecture and isefiicientin use.

Other objectsfand' advantages of the invention willbe readily apparent during the course of the following description, reference being had: to the accompanying drawings, wherein there has been illustrated the preferred examples of the invention. and wherein like characters of reference denote like parts throughout. 7 x.

Inthe drawings: I

Figure 1 is a bottom plan view of the bucket,

Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof, Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view of the bucket in inverted position, taken on line 3-.-.-3 of Figure 1, and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary vertical section illustrating a modified form of air relief valve. i -Referring specifically to the drawings, the numeral idesignates a cylindrical bucket-having a closed bottom 6 and a perforated top 1. The top I may be soldered or otherwise permanently iciaims'- (61.43-56) secured to the open upper end of the bucket. An access door 8is hinged at 9 to the top 1 and serves as the means whereby the operator mayv reach into the bucket for the removal of minnows or the like. The door 8 is also perforated and is-provided with latch means II! for securelyretaining the door against accidental opening. Eyelets II are fixed at diametrically opposite points on the. top i to which is attached any convenient and desirable form of handle, ball, or flexible carrying device, such as a chain I2.

, Spanning the bucket adjacent its bottom and spaced therefrom is a wall l3, forming an air, chamber 14. The air chamber l4 serves as the means for floating th bucket in the water in; inverted position for the major portion of its; height. A T-shaped air exhaust valve designated: by the numeral i5 spans the width of the air: chamber i4, and has communication at one end. IS with the interior of the bucket 5, while its: opposite end I! communicates with the atmos-e phere through the bottom 6. The valve I5 is ar ranged adjacent one side wall of the bucket, and has its valve stem I8 projecting outwardlyfor convenient operation thereof. The valve I5 is preferably .of the needle type. A combined air exhaust and drainage valve l8, T-shaped, is positioned upon the bottom 6 and against the side wall of the bucket, and has one end 20 communiqcating with the interior of the air chamber l4 and a lateral branch 2| communicating withthe outer surface of the bottom 6. 'A needle valve stem 22 is threaded into the valve l9 and serves, when in seated position, to close off any com-.- munication with .the chamber I4. The valves [5 and" IB are welded or soldered in fluid tight position within the chamber 14. 1

In the form of the invention shown in Figure the valve l5 has been dispensed with, and a hollow frusto-conical member 23 spans the air chamber l4.- A valve seat 24 spans the member 23 intermediate its length, said valve seat being preferably provided with a rubber lining 24a. An opening 25 is provided in the wall 6 in axial alignment with the seat 24. A weighted ball 26 is adapted to automatically engage the seat 24 when the bucket is inverted to an upright carryingposition. An inwardly projecting boss 21 is formed in the partition wall l3 and has a cen trally disposed and relatively small opening; 28; axially aligned with the valve seat 24. The boss is rounded at its inner end to avoid any possie 'bility of. the ball 26 seating thereon.v

In the use of the device the valve i5 is time and the bucket positioned in an upright position,

chamber I4 and, since the valve I5 is open, the water rushing into the bait compartment will force all of the air that might otherwise be trapped in the bottom of the bucketyth'eair pass- This ining outwardly through thewya-lve 15-; sures against any air being trapped within the bucket, causing the bucket to float in a level in--=- verted position in the water. Should it be desired te completely. :submerge: the bucket; :the-zvalve -l 9 is opehed'permitting water to .enter the-compartmerit IE-while the air' is beingexhaustedthere.-. from: Obviously to-accomplish:.this,: the operatop must force; the bucket'downwardlwtoiaapoint. below the' surface of the; vwa-teri When; it is: de sired-that the bucket shallbe buoyantia-gain; the operator merelyholdsthe bucket; in an upright position or slightly tiIted'tQWardJthef valve I 9;.at which timeithe' waterimthechamben l4 will'drain throughthe valve 19; :being'replaced rby-air: The valve l 9- Jis then closed; locking the air a; therein against displacement. In theform of the inven-. tion shown' in Figure:4'; it'may be found desirable to place relatively fin'e mesh screens: over theopenings'i2 S and ZBhto prevent the entry ,Of I any. foreign matter likely tokeep'the ball 26 from-a properwater tight seat.

It will be apparent" from the foregoingth'ata very riovel form of bait bucket ehas been 'pro vi'd'ed; The valve structures'lii andrlQ amay be varied to-construction; while the'valve 'zl 5) may be omittedand the valve structure: of: Figure :4 substituted th'erefori The valv'es'xl5 and '24 obe.

viously serve an identical purpose;thatisyrthe i reliet of air' from th'e baiti compartmentnwhen the bucket"- is submerged 1 and also as: a; means to prevent tne leakageof "water from thevbait'iconre partment when the buck'et: is carried an up right-manner;

' It isto =b'e understood thatithe'zinvention is mot limited -to the:precise construction an'd arrangee merit of parts, but that it inicludes within its pure view wh'a tever changes fairlyrcome'within' either the termsor: the f scope of the i appended; claims;

' Havingdescribed mys invention; :what-aI claim as new and desire to secure byi patent-is: 1: i A live bait bucket-tthescliaracter described, comprising a cylindrical container" closed i at: its bottom andhaving a perforated-$013,122perforated access door hinged to the top, an 'air chamber formed 'in the: bottom of the container=,':an1air reli'ftvalve communicating with-"the interioriof the coritainer and with i the atmosphereyzandta v'a'l-ve communicating with the atmosphereuand witlftheinteri'oi bftheair chamberi.i

21 A live baihbucketoflthe character described comprisingsa'rcyliridrical containerhawingaclosed lower end and a a perforated: upper end, .an' access doorhirigedly supported? on the: perforatedi'end substantially centrally: thereof, latch 'meanfs'afor the-door; handle attaching members secured to the perforated e'nd; awall spanningstheicontainei' in spaced relation to the bottom for forming an air chamber, a valve positioned in the air chamber and communicating at one end with the interior of the container and its opposite end communicating with the atmosphere, manually controlled means extending outwardly of the container for opening and closing the valve, and a combined air and drainage valve positioned in the air chamber at a point diametrically opposite therfirst'named valve, andhaving one: end communicatirigwiththe air'chamber'andpne end communicating with the atmosphere, each of said valves having a manually controlled valve stemiextending outwardly of the container wall.

3. A live bait bucket of the character described comprisinga' cylindrical container closed at its bottom-1andprovided with a top perforated wall, saidtop provided with a relatively large centrally disposed opening, a perforated closure door hingedly supported upon the top and adapted to overlie-:said': opening, handle supporting; means fixed to the top at? diametrically opposite: points; :a Wallispanning ithecontainer in spaced relation to the bottom: for forming'an airchambem a 'T' shaped-valve arranged: within the air "chamber and communicating .at: oneend with the interior of the container and 'atvits opposite end-com! municating: with the atmosphere through the bottom, 'a'manuallycontrolled:valvestem for the valve: extending outwardly- 0f? the: sideof tHG 'COH', tain'err a; combined :air reliefand-\drainage'cva-lve ofr T-shape positioned in 1 the air' chamber-sat a point diametricallyopposite the-first named-valve andin'direct contact with the bottomwof'the container; said last :nam'ed' valve communicat ingsat one end with the interiorof the airvcham her and: with the atmosphere through the bottom: :of 5 the container; and "a" manually controlled valverstem for the'secon'cl named::'valve: extend ingaoutwardly; of: the side'sof thevcontainerasaid valvesbeinggsealed withrespect to the leakage oiawatei' to the airr: compartment i from therinteribr of: the containerrfan-d fromthe a exterior when the valves are closed.

411A livebaite bucket; comprising-5' a bottom member, .a; perforatedztop member," an air 'cham berzformed atith'e' lower end:ofr'th'e bucket, :azlrols low wall,frustoeconicaliinrcross rsection spanning the'nairiu-chamber, a Ivalve seat i spanning:the-zin teriorrportio'n ofrsaid: hollow"frustolconicallwall,

arball adapted to engage the seat when th'eibucket' is in an upright position, said bottom provided with an; air: escapevop'enir'rgl'to lthefatmospl'ierei in axial; alignment; witlnrthe: seat; 2 an upstanding bossri extending sintoctlre: Icon-e: and iprovidedslwith a small air escape openingdni'axial;alignment with: the? seat and: coirrmumica ting?- with 'th'i interlor. of the container? saidf seat p'r'ovid'ed with positioned within:th 'air chamber and having communicationwith theachamb'er and tn at mesphere and-manually ontrolled means for tli vave.

ILLIAM cot mime:

REFERENGES: CITED: Thefibllwiiig referencesare of record"-ifi the file of this -patenti v UNITED. STATES PATENTS Numbers-u Name Dates 35%958 WeIghtmanLh-"A Dem 28 1886 

